Inaugural Innovation Island Summit commences in Colombo, bringing together delegates from over 50 countries

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The inaugural edition of the ‘Innovation Island Summit’ commenced today (20th) in Colombo, bringing together delegates from 50 countries to explore the transformative dynamics of island nations, the innovations emerging from them, and their impact on the global stage.

The 2-day summit is being co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), the High Commission of India, and the Capital Maharaja Group (CMG).

The high-level summit will feature a keynote address by President Anura Kumara Disanayake. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister Vijitha Herath will also address the forum at the ITC Ratnadipa.

Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa, is also in attendance. Kant has been the key driver of Make in India, Startup India, Incredible India, and God's Own Country. He has spearheaded Ease of Doing Business, Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), Production-Linked Incentive Schemes (PLI), the liberalisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure, and Asset Monetisation programmes and policies for the Government of India. He has led the national effort to accelerate India's transition to cleaner energy, spearheading sustainability initiatives such as the Green Hydrogen Mission and the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, and pushing ambitious climate finance reform through the Green Development Pact in the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration.

Ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, and leading subject matter experts from around the world are taking part in the summit's panels and roundtable discussions.

The forum will examine innovative solutions for accelerated development and growth and will explore key sectors defining the present and future trajectory of island economies and other states.

Major themes for deliberation will include the possible contours of a post-2030 development agenda, connectivity and infrastructure, finance and investment, emerging technologies, the blue economy, energy and green imperatives, and the role of women and youth as change-makers. Through these discussions, the summit aspires to promote a stronger ethic of collaboration among stakeholders across diverse geographies and sectors.

The forum will also host studio sessions that will provide nuanced perspectives on issues such as advancing maritime infrastructure, international cooperation in an uncertain world, efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in the Indo-Pacific, boosting startup ecosystems across island states, and ensuring decent jobs for all.

The Innovation Island Summit is expected to become a premier international event focused on innovation, and a flagship forum for island states and other nations to enter into dialogue and build partnerships.